Principal Buyer of Canadian Seal Skins Subsidized by Govt. to Burn Pelts

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Principal Buyer of Canadian Seal Skins Subsidized by

Govt. to Burn Pelts

Thu, 8 Jun 2006 17:55:43 -0700

 

This information begs to be posted everywhere!

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Principal Buyer of Canadian Seal Skins Subsidized by

Government To Burn Pelts

 

 

 

June 7, 2006

 

 

WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States

today reacted to news that a Norwegian company has

destroyed 10,000 harp seal skins, commenting that the

revelation contradicts claims of strong markets for

seal products.

 

Norwegian media outlets reported last week that the

top buyer of Canadian seal pelts, Norwegian based GC

Rieber, was paid by the Norwegian government to

destroy 10,000 harp seal skins. GC Rieber is

considered the economic backbone of the Canadian

sealing industry, each year buying 50 to 80 percent of

the skins from seals killed during the annual seal

hunt in Canada. Slain Canadian seals account for more

than 90 percent of Rieber’s seal skin business.

 

“For years we’ve suspected some form of price rigging

through hidden government subsidies – now we have

proof,” said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Canadian

wildlife issues for The Humane Society of the United

States. “These revelations demonstrate that the

Canadian seal hunt, in addition to being cruel and

inhumane, is also economically unjustified.”

 

GC Rieber purchases sealskins through its Newfoundland

subsidiary, Carino, and has repeatedly claimed that

the demand for seal products is so strong they cannot

match supply. However, a recent media report revealed

that the Norwegian government has paid Rieber 2

million Norwegian kroner (about $370,000 CAD/ $330,000

USD) to burn 10,000 excess Norwegian harp seal skins.

 

The Norwegian harp seal skins were obtained from

sealers, who had also received major government

subsidies (2.5 million Norwegian kroner) to kill the

seals. The Norwegian government justified the burning

of the skins, indicating it was impossible to find

markets for the harp seal pelts.

 

Animal protection groups and trade specialists have

questioned the repeated claims of strong sealskin

markets made by Rieber in recent years.

 

“In 2000, the markets were so weak that Carino stopped

buying seal skins halfway through the season, and

sealers returning from the hunt dumped their seal

skins into the ocean because they were worthless,”

said Aldworth. “Just a few years later, Carino is

claiming their sales are the strongest they’ve ever

been – even as major European markets are closing.”

 

 

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The Humane Society of the United States is the

nation’s largest animal protection organization with

more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The

HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active

programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness

and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine

mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and

farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals

through education, investigation, litigation,

legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit

organization is based in Washington and has field

representatives and offices across the country. On the

web at www.hsus.org